Based on Green Grow the Lilacs, a stage play by Lynn
Riggs, Oklahoma! brought together for the first time
composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein
II. The duo would go on to write nine Broadway musicals together,
but none would be as important for the development of American
musical theatre as Oklahoma! A milestone in its fusion
of story, song and dance, the production even featured a dream
ballet (choreographed by Agnes de Mille) which revealed the main
characters hidden fears and desires.
The plot is simple, revolving mainly around the question of
who will take Laurey Williams to the box social--the decent Curly
McLain or the sinister Jud Fry. However, Oklahoma! continued
in the tradition of Show Boat
in its depiction of the pioneering men and women of the American
Southwest.
Oklahoma! opened at the St. James Theatre on March
31, 1943 and ran for 2,212 performances. The original cast featured
Joan Roberts as Laurey Williams, Alfred Drake as Curly McLain
and Howard Da Silva as Jud Fry. The 1955 film version featured
Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones.
|